Summary
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has been one of Ubisoft’s most ambitious in recent memory. After almost a decade of the same tried and true formula, Ubisoft tookAssassin’s Creed’s stealth-based, mostly linear gameplay loop and expanded it into a trio of expansive open-world RPG experiences over the last six years. This decision proved to thrill almost as many fans as it alienated, and on the back of that experimentation, Ubisoft has shown no signs of slowing down with the development of diverseAssassin’s Creedprojects.
Sinceactive support forAssassin’s Creed Valhallacame to a close last year, Ubisoft has been hard at work building a wide portfolio of upcoming titles. While some of these games are well known and will be releasing in the near future, even more are shrouded in mystery. Ubisoft has been signaling a major evolution of theAssassin’s Creedbrand for some time now, and its various projects in development are a reflection of that. With all the rumors and speculation surrounding each upcomingAssassin’s Creedgame, it’s worth getting all of them straight.
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Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Releasing in just a couple of months,Assassin’s Creed Miragehas been touted as a return to form for theACfranchise. After the gargantuan experience that wasAC Valhalla,Mirageplans to take players on a much more intimate ride through Baghdad withValhalla’s antagonist, Basim. Gone are the winding skill trees and mountains of disposable gear, and back are social stealth, fast-paced freerunning, and a more linear storytelling structure. Time will tell ifAC Mirageis everything longtime fans have been waiting for, but for the moment it seems like Ubisoft may have tapped back into what put the franchise on the map to begin with.
Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
WhileAssassin’s Creed Mirageis taking players to a place they should be very familiar with,Assassin’s Creed Nexus VRis taking the series to somewhere it’s never been before.AC Nexus VRwill be the franchise’s first foray into VR, allowing players to literally step into the shoes ofAC’s most iconic assassins. The series' most iconic features have been translated to VR, with players able to freerun, sneak through crowds, and engage in tense combat all in first-person. ForACfans who have been around since the beginning,AC Nexus VRwill also expand on the adventures of Ezio Auditore and Connor.
Assassin’s Creed Red
Assassin’s Creed’s historical tourism has always helped it stand out, and one era that many fans have requested for years is feudal Japan. That patience has finally paid off, asAssassin’s Creed Redis taking players to the land of the rising sun. Reports suggest thatAC Redcould have two playable protagonists, one a ninja and the other samurai, which has fascinating implications for the game’s gameplay and storyline. It’ll likely be quite some time beforeACfans are let loose to explore their fantasies of being a stealthy ninja, but there’s relief in knowing Ubisoft is making so many long-held wishes come true.
Assassin’s Creed Hexe
Assassin’s Creed Hexeis one of the more mysteriousACprojects currently in development. Revealed alongsideRed,Hexeis theorized to focus on a coven of witchesduring the reign of the Holy Roman Empire. These witches would be the protagonists ofHexe, and judging from its teaser trailer, there could be a strong focus on navigating the forests of Eastern Europe.Hexe’s trailer also suggests the game could have a much darker tone than previous entries, but it seems unlikely thatACwould dive into true horror territory. Fans will just have to keep their eyes peeled for the next time Ubisoft has information to share.
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Assassin’s Creed Jade
Assassin’s Creed Nexus VRisn’t the only upcoming game that takes the series to an unfamiliar platform, asAssassin’s Creed Jadeplans to be the first mainline entry available on mobile devices. Set in the third century BC,Jadegives players a chance to explore ancient Chinaand protect the land from invaders. Landmarks like the Great Wall of China will be featured, and in trueACfashion, the game will delve into the country’s rich culture. It’s unclear how expansive the experience will be given the limitations of mobile phone hardware, but any hesitance to giveJadea try should be quelled by the fact that it will be free-to-play.
Assassin’s Creed Infinity, Invictus, and Netflix Project
While the aforementionedAssassin’s Creedtitles have at least a marginal amount of information behind them, the following projects are not as clearly defined. First isAssassin’s Creed Infinity, which Ubisoft has described asa sort of hub to access a range ofACexperiences. It’s unclear exactly how this hub would function, such as if it would work as a sort of launcher or premium service, butAC Infinityhas nonetheless proven to be one of the more intriguing projects for the franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Invictushasn’t received as much of the spotlight asRed,Hexe, orJade, but it’s shaping up to be an exclusively multiplayerACexperience.Assassin’s Creed’s multiplayer was a highlight for many fans back in the day, so to see a game completely dedicated to it could prove to be yet another return to form for the series.
Then there’sAssassin’s Creed’s Netflix project, which is set to be a mobile game exclusive to the streaming service. Netflix has experimented with gaming in the past, withMinecraft: Story Modefeaturing on the platform some time ago. There are several questions on how thisACgame will be implemented and what its story will be, but the one thing that can be said for sure is Ubisoft is not shying away from unique experiences.
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has established itself as one of the most recognizable in the industry over its fifteen-year history, and it shows no signs of slowing down.Miragemay be taking the franchise back to basics, but games likeAC Redhave the potential to combine both action RPG and stealth gameplay. It’s going to take a massive effort from Ubisoft for all of itsACprojects to pan out, but fans can find comfort in the strong sense of direction the company has shown thus far.
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